A woman has already served as a temporary line judge

She won’t be a player, but she might be enforcing the rules. Sarah Thomas, who recently participated at the NFL’s officiating development program at the Indianapolis Colts minicamp, could serve as a referee at some pre-season NFL games this year and is in line to get regular season referee spot when a current referee departs, the Sporting News notes.

If Thomas gets the job — and she is expected to — she will become the first permanent female referee in NFL history. Another woman, Shannon Easton, served as a temporary line judge at both a regular and pre-season game last year. Eastin may be barred from serving as a permanent ref due to her past as a poker player. NFL gambling rules would prevent her from working as a ref during league games.

Thomas will still have to pass a round of background checks, evaluations and interviews with league officials.